Bills give Nick Barnett his walking papers

Posted by Josh Alper on February 11, 2013, 2:03 PM EST

AP

The Bills will be sporting a different look at outside linebacker next season.

Nick Barnett has started the last 32 games for the team, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be making it 33 come September. Barnett announced via Twitter on Monday that the Bills have informed him that he’ll be released. He said a classy goodbye to the team and Bills fans.

“I was told I’ll be released today by the Buffalo Bills. Thanks to all the great fans and friends I have met in Western New York,” Barnett wrote. “It was truly a pleasure being apart of that organization and culture. Very unfortunate we didn’t get the Bills to the playoffs but I know you guys will have many successful years ahead of you.”

Barnett signed a three-year deal with the Bills before the 2011 season and was set to make $3.5 million in 2013. He was solid in both seasons for the Bills, winding up with 242 tackles, five sacks, three interceptions and four interceptions over the two years, but the Bills defense didn’t meet expectations in either year. With a new coaching staff in place, Barnett probably won’t wind up as the only solid player let go as the team searches for something more than that in the future.

Seems like he has straightened out some. Was a bit of a blowhard when with the Packers but when they released him he was very professional in the manor that he left. I paid attention to him after he left and he seemed pretty successful in Buffalo. But you don’t get into the playoffs being older and slower. He will probably find a place making much less money as a depth guy. Best of luck to him!

Did not know that he got into a fight at a nightclub. I do recall that James Lofton had an incident at a nightclub also. Seems that as soon as you have an off-field incident in Green Bay , they show you the door, no matter how “classy” you are.